Thill-coupling



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN A. KETTRING, OF MARTINSVILLE, ILLINOIS.

THILL-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 525,604, datedSeptember 4, 1894. Application filed March 3, 1894. Serial No. 502,241.(No model.)

.To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN A. KETTRING, a citizen of the United States,residing at Martinsville, in the county of Clark and State of Illinois,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Thill-Couplings andI do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description ofthe invention, such aswill enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon,which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to thill couplings, and especially to that classthereof wherein provision is made for instantly coupling and uncouplingthe parts without the necessity of a preliminary manipulation of nuts,bolts, or the like; and has for its object to improve the generalconstruction and operation of such devices.

The invention consists in the construction, relative arrangement andoperation of the parts composing the improved thill coupling, all ofwhich will fully and clearly appear from a reading of the subjoineddescription taken in connection with the accompanying drawings whichform a part of this specification and in which- Figure 1 is a sideelevation of the improved thill coupling. Fig. 2 is a vertical centralsection; and Fig. 3 is a similar view with the parts in a dierentposition. Figs. 4 and 5 are detail views.

Referring to the drawings by letter, a denotes the coupler, and formedintegrally` therewith is the clip b which is secured to the axle tree inthe usual manner. The coupling consists of two ears c c which areparallel to each other and extend outwardly from the clip, and whichhave near their outer ends circular openings c c', and slots c2 c2 whichcommunicate with the said openings. The inner walls of the slots areelongated by forming projections c3 on the upper sides of the ears for apurpose to be hereinafter explained.

d d are bushings which are circular in shape and conform to the openingsc' in which they are tted, a suiiicient freedom of movement beingallowed to permit of said bushings being turned, and d cl are recessesin said bushings which conform at their upper ends to the slots c2 butwhich gradually diminish in width to the base, or in other words areslightly wedge-shaped. v

The thill end or tongue E is provided with a head e which is ofsufficient width to fit the Y opening between the ears, and el e arewedgeshaped bolt pivots which conform to the slots c2. The outer ends e2e2 of these pivots are reduced and screw-threaded to receive nuts fwhich in practice abut against the bushings and ears as will bepresently explained. The

head e is made substantially cylindrical, but

segments are cut away to form two faces, one of which, g, is so arrangedas to incline rearwardly from the perpendicular when the thills are in araised position; and the other, h, is

slots into the recesses in the bushings where they fit snugly, and thepivots conforming to the dimensions of the recesses the thills may bemoved at will past the slots, the bushings following said movements. Tofacilitate the entrance of the pivots, the inner wall as before statedis made higher than the outer wall in order that the pivots may becentered as will be understood. The nuts on the ends of the pivots actas shoulders or stops to prevent the spreading of the ears when strainis brought to bear, and also to prevent the disengagement of thebushings; or if desired any suitable means may be employed to securesaid bushings laterally and yet permit of their rotation. The springemployed performs three functions, the first being to prevent the headfrom passing the slot when the coupling is being made; the second beingto prevent the rattling of the parts when the device is in use, inasmuchas the spring, when the thill is lowered, bears against the face h, andby pressure thereon acts as an antirattler; and the third being topartly disconnect the parts by bearing on the face g when the thill israised. In the latter case the face g assumes an inclined position andthe spring which has a ICO tendency to move outward bears with pressure'against the said face and in conjunction .with the curved lower end 2which abuts against the point formed by the juncture of the two faces,operates to raise and partly disconnect the thill when the pivots aremoved in line with the slots. When the thill is coupled and in use thespring is compressed, and bearing against the head forces the bearingsforward with sufficient pressure to insure a noiseless movement of theparts, but.

when the parts are at rest, 'L'. e.,.the thills are raised, the springis relieved, and consequently its period of usefulness is prolonged..The parts are few in number, and simplyV constructed and the device as awhole is effective and durable.

It is evident that if desired the thills may remain coupled whether thevehicle is at rest or in use, inasmuch as the spring will operate tomaintain the raised position of the thills without the` necessity ofemploying any auX- iliary devices.

What I claim asmy invention isl. In a thill coupling the combinationwiththe clip and its attached ears, said ears having circular openings andcommunicating slots, of the thill iron` having laterally projectingpivots at its rear end, said pivots being threaded at their outer ends,the bushings into which said pivots t and the nuts screwed upon thethreaded ends of the piv ots substantially as shown and described.

2. A thill coupling comprising two ears having the circular openings andthe slots leadf ing thereto, the rear walls of said slots bein( higherthan the front walls, the bushings ttingsaidV openings and having theadapted to register with the slots when tha y bushings are turned asdescribed, the thill head having the faces and the bolt pivots,saidpivots being provided with reduced screw f threaded ends and nuts,and the spring having the return bend and the curved free end andoperating `in conjunction with said faces in the manner and for thepurposes set forth,V 3. In -a thill coupling the combination witli'..the clipfand its ears,zhavingopenings all slots asdescribed,vofthebushings locande:

inthe openings andslotted also, the thllrv. iron having the laterallyprojectingpvobn. threaded at ,their outer ends, the nuts adptd to bescrewed upon said ends and a springe a. connected to the clip andadapted to beans" upon the rear end of the thill iron substa'lws` tiallyas shown and described. l In testimony whereofIaix mysignntureimr@presence of two witnesses.-

JOHN A. KETTRING. Witnesses:

C. H. FosIE, CHARLES T. IsHLER.

